“The number of coach visitors has risen two and a half times, which is a big jump.”

He said it is all due to the increase in marketing which Project Coach has been working on, promoting the town as a destination to coach operators.

One of the incentives includes handing out a raffle ticket for each coach driver that brings visitors to the town. The ticket, or tickets if the coach visits more frequently, is entered into a £100 cash draw.

Les added: “There’s a lot more planned for 2014, including several travel shows over the next few months.”

Ian Jefferies, BiARS tourism manager, said: “We’ve been keeping a count on the number of coaches coming in and there’s been a dramatic increase. We’re chuffed to bits.”

A packed events calendar is also hoped to draw more coaches in this year.

There will be a meeting on January 30 at the Bay Centre, Cassis Close, from 7pm for anyone interested in organising an event in Burnham or Highbridge.

Ian added: “The idea behind this meeting is to collate all events for mass promotion and to avoid clashes of events where possible.”

If you have ideas for events please send an email to ianfromburnham@gmail.com